'Greys Anatomy' ratings climb for Burke return

ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy enjoyed a ratings uptick for the return of Preston Burke. Thursday’s episode was up 13 percent from last week to win the 9 p.m. hour and post a nine-week high (here’s our interview with Grey’s creator Shonda Rhimes about last night’s episode).

Yet Grey’s improving didn’t help the second episode of ABC’s new neuro-drama Black Box, which declined by the same amount, 13 percent (see chart). Another newcomer, CBS’ comedy Bad Teacher, fell a sharp 29 percent from last week’s debut.

Also: Fox’s American Idol sank 17 percent to another All Time Low. Idol has gone from invincible, to getting beaten by only Big Bang, to getting trumped by nearly half of the broadcast shows on Thursday night.